Plastic table tennis net bracket

ABSTRACT

An improved post assembly for supporting a net on a table used for playing table tennis, the post assembly being comprised of a bracket permanently mountable to a side of the tennis table, the bracket having a downwardly tapered opening on its upper side and into which is removably insertable a downwardly tapered block from which protrudes upwardly a post provided with a series of transverse openings to which selectively the tennis net is attachable.

United States Patent 1191 [111 3,863,921 Price [45] Feb. 4, 1975 [54] PLASTIC TABLE TENNIS NET BRACKET [76] Inventor: O. R. Price, 905 6th St., Bristol, Pmflary Examl'fer`Rchal-d C' Pmkham Tenn. 37620 Assistant Examzner-T Brown [22] Filed: Nov. 27, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT [2l] Appl. No.14l),4l3

An improved post assembly for supporting a net on a table used for playing table tennis, the post assembly [52] U.S. Cl 273/30, 248/314, 248/224 being Comprised of a bracket permanently mountable [5l] Int. Cl A63b 61/00 to a side of the tennis table, the bracket having a [58] Field 0f Search 273/30; 248/43, 205 R, downwardly tapered opening on its upper side and 248/3143 272/60 into which is removably insertable a downwardly tapered block from which protrudes upwardly a post [56] References Cted provided with a series of transverse openings to which UNITED STATES PATENTS selectively the tennis net is attachable. l,805,095 5/1931 Horni 248/43 UX 2,769,636 11/1956 Finesmne 273/30 1 Clam" 4 Dmwmg Fgm'es PATENTEU FEB 4l975 FIG.

FIG. 2

FIG. 5

PLASTIC TABLE TENNIS NET BRACKET This invention relates generally to table tennis equipment.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved post assembly for use on a table used in playing table tennis, the improved post assembly eliminating the necessity of screwing the same from a bottom of the table.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a table tennis net bracket which will not tear up the table.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a table tennis net bracket which stays aligned indefinitely without becoming misaligned such as occurs with conventional equipment.

yet another object of the present invention is to provide a table tennis net bracket wherein the net can be quickly and easily removed by simply picking it up so that there are no parts to unscrew or untie, thus leaving the table available for playing other games and wherein the net can be quickly and easily returned when so desired.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a table tennis net bracket which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will become readily evident upon a study of the following specification together with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. l is a perspective view of the present invention shown in mounted position on a tennis table and in operative use;

FIG. 2 is an exploded side view of the components of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the assembly;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of a modified design of one of the components thereof.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral represents a table tennis net bracket assembly, according to the present invention, and which consists of a bracket l1 that can be permanently mounted to an outer side l2 of a table 13 that is used for playing table tennis. The bracket ll serves to support a post 14, as shown.

The block l1 includes a flat plate portion 1S which is integral with a block 16, the plate portion l5 including a pair of transverse openings 17 extending therethrough so to receive mounting screws 18 in order to mount the bracket to the table. The block 16 that is integrally formed with the plate portion has a vertical opening 19 extending downwardly therethrough, the opening 19 being convergingly tapered in a downward direction, as is best indicated in FIG. 2.

The post 14 includes a block 20 which is correspondingly downwardly convergingly tapered so to conform to the shape of the opening 19 and into which -it is receivable. It is to be noted that the opening 19 is of generally square configuration when viewed from a top and the block 20 is likewise accordingly square contigurated. When the block 20 is inserted into the opening 19, the upper surface of the block 20 is aligned approximately with the upper edge of the block 16 for `purposes of a smooth appearance. Both blocks may be made of approximately the same thickness vertically. A metal bar 21 is secured at its lower end within the block 20 by being imbedded therein when the block 20 is molded. The metal bar 21 is provided with a row of transverse openings 22 therethrough for purposes of cords 23 along the upper and lower ends of a net 24 being inse rtable therethrough and then tied as shown at 25.

In operative use, it is now evident that the net can be quickly and easily set up by simply dropping the block 20 of the post into the block 16, thus instantly erecting the net for playing a table tennis game. Thereafter when it is desired to disassemble the net from the table, a person simply lifts up the post from the bracket and puts it away without the necessity of untying the knots 25 or removing the net from the bar 2l. The design of the bracket and the post are such `that they will not disalign from each other so that the net is maintained in a taut condition at all times.

The bracket l1 and the block 20 of the post are preferably made of a strong plastic molded material, although if desired, they may be designed to be made of metal, as preferred by a manufacturer.

In FIG. 4 of the drawing there is shown a modified design of post 26 which includes the block 20 and from which there extends .upwardly an angle shaped metal bar 27.

Thus a modified design of post is provided and which includes openings 28 for receiving the net cords 23.

What I now claim is:

l. In a table tennis net bracket assembly, the combination of` a bracket mountable permanently upon a side of a table used for playing table tennis, and said bracket supporting a removeable post, said bracket including a plate portion and a block portion integrally formed together, said plate portion having a pair of `openings therethrough for receiving mounting screws in order to secure the same to said table, and said block portion having a vertical opening therethrough, said vertical opening being cross sectionally square, said post being comprised of a correspondingly shaped block receivable within said cross sectionally square opening of said block portion, and a metal bar secured to said block, said block of said post being downwardly convergingly tapered, and said opening of said block portion being downwardly tapered convergingly so that said post is rigidly supported by said bracket, said metal bar having its lower end embedded within said block, said bar extending upwardly and having a plurality of openings therethrough to which an upper and lower cord of a net is attachable. 

1. In a table tennis net bracket assembly, the combination of a bracket mountable permanently upon a side of a table used for playing table tennis, and said bracket supporting a removeable post, said bracket including a plate portion and a blocck portion integrally formed together, said plate portion having a pair of openings therethrough for receiving mounting screws in order to secure the same to said table, and said block portion having a vertical opening therethrough, said vertical opening being cross sectionally square, said post being comprised of a correspondingly shaped block receivable within said cross sectionally square opening of said block portion, and a metal bar secured to said block, said block of said post being downwardly convergingly tapered, and said opening of said block portion being downwardly tapered convergingly so that said post is rigidly supported by said bracket, said metal bar having its lower end embedded within said block, said bar extending upwardly and having a plurality of openings therethrough to which an upper and lower cord of a net is attachable. 